Hyderabad – 8 January 2001
Mr. Altaf Hussain, Founder and
Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has said if Benazir Bhutto campaigns
to rid Sindh from the oppressive domination of the Punjabi Establishment,
complete provincial autonomy according to the spirit of 1940 Resolution and
take into account the bloodshed of her father and brother including the extra
judicial murder of innocent Sindhis and Mohajirs by the Punjabi establishment,
then we are ready to work along with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Mr Hussain stated this today while answering
to the questions at the luncheon gathering organised by the MQM Hyderabad Zone
in the honour of Sindhi journalists and editors.
Replying to a question he said we
do accept that PPP is a large political party and majority of Sindhis vote for
the PPP. However, as far as
understanding with the PPP is concerned, if Benazir Bhutto openly campaigns for
full provincial autonomy according to the spirit of 1940 Resolution, rid the Sindh
province of the domination and occupation of Punjabi Establishment, for the
rights of Sindh and take into account the bloodshed of her father Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto and her brothers Shahnawaz Bhutto and Mir Murtuza Ali Bhutto including
the massacre of all the oppressed Sindhis and Mohajirs by the establishment
then we are ready to work along with the PPP.
Mr. Altaf Hussain said, Benazir
Bhutto should think that for how long she would continue to work for the
interest of the Establishment for the sake of becoming the prime minister? She
should think for Sindh, which has been deprived of its legitimate rights and
its people are longing for basic necessities including clean drinking
water. He said that Benazir Bhutto has
to decide whether she wants to bargain and struggle only to attain power or she
wants to struggle for the rights of Sindh. If she comes forward for the rights
of Sindh, then we are ready to work along with the PPP.
Answering to another question on
Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Mr. Hussain said that in the
political history of Pakistan many political alliances came into existence but
what was their fate? He said an
alliance formed to restore the democracy should within itself reflect the real
democracy. Before the Pakistan Muslim
League (PML) joined the ARD, a political alliance GDA existed. However, soon after the PML joined the GDA,
acting solely on their advice GDA was transformed into ARD. Moreover, its declaration was drafted without
even taking the consent and consultation with the component political parties
of the alliance. He said on the one
hand PML joined the ARD and on the other hand they made a deal with the
Military Government. As a result of
this secret deal, its leader left the country whereas the PPP kept silent.
He said that what could be expected
from such an alliance after the restoration of democracy when its member
political parties are involved in deception and betrayal even before the
restoration of democracy?
Answering to another question Mr
Hussain said that if ARD demands for full provincial autonomy according to the
spirit of 1940 Resolution, then the MQM Coordination Committee is prepared to
take back some of its other demands.
Replying to another question Mr
Hussain said that MQM has never worked for the interest of Punjabi Establishment. If the MQM would have worked for the Punjabi
Establishment then such a long State Operation would not have been launched
against the MQM, thousands of its innocent workers would not have been
murdered, and thousands of its workers would not have been languishing in jails
even today. He said, the Establishment
detained Nawaz Sharif but no action was taken against the entire PML. Mr. Altaf Hussain said that the people of
Sindh have been detained in prisons whereas those belonging to Punjab have been
set free despite looting the national exchequer.
Mr Hussain asked how the problems could be resolved and the
concept of one nation strengthen when the Sindhis, Mohajirs, Baloch and
Pashtoons are labelled as traitors, their patriotism considered doubtful and
only the Punjabis are declared as loyal and the most patriotic citizens of the
country. Mr. Hussain said that one
nation couldn’t be formed only by preaching -- providing equality and justice
could only form it.
Mr Hussain said that nation gives
birth to another nation and geographical boundaries gives birth to geographical
boundaries. If the people of different
classes and communities, living in a geographical boundary, are treated equally
then one-nation concept strengthens and the concept of ethno-linguistic groups
weakens. However, if equal treatment is
not provided then the concept of one-nation weakens and the concept of
ethno-linguistic groups strengthens.
Replying to a question on the
politics of arms in Sindh, Mr Hussain said that we are against the politics of
arms and ammunition. However when armed
attacks will be carried out upon peaceful localities, thousands of innocent
people will be massacred, houses will be torched and the Police, Army and the
Administration does not to provide protection to the people then every person
has a right to defend according to the constitution, law and even provided by
the UN Charter. Mr Hussain said that
why it is demanded to only rid Sindh of weapons whereas much more illegal
weapons are in Punjab? He demanded to
first eliminate weapons from where they are manufactured then talk of purging
weapons from Sindh. He further said if
cities and villages of Sindh are showered upon with arms and ammunition and the
innocent people of Sindh continue to die as a result then it must be demanded
that arms and ammunition must be confiscated from whoever is using it against
the people of Sindh.
Replying to a question regarding
Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM), Mr Hussain said that we support
their demands and we are in contact with the PONM and a working relationship
could be established. He said that in
this context the MQM Coordination Committee has forwarded some proposals to
Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Convenor of PONM.
He further said that in the 12 Resolutions presented in the public
gathering of 17th September in London, we have talked about the
rights of oppressed nations of the country.
On the issue of stranded
Pakistanis in the Bangladesh, Mr Hussain said that they sided with the Army in
1971; therefore, it is the moral obligation of the Pakistan Army to repatriate
them to Pakistan and settle them in the Punjab.
·
Audio Highlights of
Mr. Hussain's address to Sindhi Press
·
Full
text of Mr Altaf Hussain’s address to Sindhi journalists
·
Photographs
of the gathering